US Army exercise tests tactics under persistent Ukrainian drone surveillance

A 10-day US Army combat training exercise in Germany tested how American soldiers adapted to persistent Ukrainian drone surveillance. Blackhawk Company, part of the 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, trained at Hohenfels on a 14-by-27-kilometer range.

Ukrainian personnel from the 412th Regiment supported opposing forces during initial operations. Its elite Nemesis formation used aerial systems to observe American movements. Blackhawk Company said it lacked the counter-drone equipment its soldiers would have preferred, so troops changed how they occupied positions, moved vehicles, and concealed personnel.

Bradley vehicles moved beneath dense vegetation, while troops used steep ground and difficult routes to reduce exposure from above. American vehicles, including Bradley vehicles and tanks, were destroyed during simulated combat, and some crews were counted as losses. Capt. Allan Watson rejected the idea that those results made heavy armor unsuitable, saying armored vehicles still provided mobility and protection.

On the sixth day, Blackhawk Company shifted from defensive to offensive operations. Ukrainian participants shared methods for operating inexpensive drones over long distances and linking observation with rapid engagement. Watson called their approach “a masterclass in sensor-to-shooter kill chain management and speed.” He said the exercise showed that persistent surveillance requires tactical adaptation, while human decisions and conventional reconnaissance remain important.